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Creating Jewish Opportunities at the University of Illinois
Getting to Know the U of I

This page should give you all the information you need to begin getting to know the U of I campus. Check out the bottom left for a link to campus maps.

Campus Facts 2001 (Taken from the University's website: www.uiuc.edu)

History

-One of the original 37 public land-grant institutions created within 10 years of the signing of the Morrill Act by Abraham Lincoln in 1862
-Chartered in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University; opened in 1868

Location

-1,451 acres (213 major buildings) located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana (combined population: 100,000) and the surrounding area
-Situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 miles northeast of St. Louis

Urbana and Champaign are divided by Wright Street, which runs north-south through the middle of the University campus. Urbana is east, Champaign west, of Wright Street. If you are going to a building identified by a street address, you must know which city it is in. A complete city map can be found in the city telephone book. Information about the MTD bus system is available at the Illini Union Information Desk and the Visitors Center.

Colleges & Instructional Units

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, College of Applied Life Studies, Institute of Aviation, College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Communications, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Graduate College, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, College of Law, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign, School of Social Work, College of Veterinary Medicine

Students

-37,023 total: 27,936 undergraduate and 9,087 graduate and professional
-52% men, 48% women; 7.0% African-American; 5.7% Latino/a; 13.2% Asian-American; and 0.2% Native American
-Students typically come from 50 states and 100 nations; about half of each freshman class comes from Lake and Cook counties in Illinois.

Faculty

-1,860 tenured members: 887 professors, 547 associate professors, and 419 assistant professors
-Many recognized for exceptional scholarship with memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering; with the National Medal of Science and the Fields Medal in Mathematics; as National Science Foundation Young Investigators and as recipients of Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers; and by such organizations as the National Endowment for the Humanities, Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, National Academy of Education, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Undergraduate Education

-27,936 students; 91% Illinois residents
-6,176 new freshmen enrolled in fall 2000
-Undergraduates typically come from all 50 states; 652 are international students
-Eight colleges and one institute offer 4,000 courses and 150 programs of study

Academic Profile of Entering Freshmen

In the 2000 freshman class, students in the middle 50% had ACT scores between 25 and 30 and ranked between the 82nd and 96th percentiles of their high school graduating classes
 
Undergraduate Tuition and Fees (Fall 2000)

-Resident: $5,028-$5,604/year; nonresident: $12,476-$13,052/year
-All eligible students who apply for need-based aid receive some type of assistance

Graduate Education

-9,054 graduate and professional students
-2,081 new graduate and professional students enrolled in 2000
-Professional programs in business, law, library science, medicine, social work, and veterinary medicine

Graduate Tuition and Fees (Fall 2000)

-Resident: $5,648-$6,224/year; nonresident: $13,158-$13,734/year
-Law, medicine, and veterinary medicine assessed separately

CAMPUS LIFE

Culture and Entertainment

-Krannert Center for the Performing Arts: four theaters seat about 4,000 and annually host 350 student and professional performances, as well as commencements, lectures, and other events
-Foellinger Auditorium: seats 1,750 for concerts, speakers, and special events
-Assembly Hall: multipurpose arena that hosts concerts, Broadway productions, campus events, and men's and women's basketball games; seating capacity of up to 16,500

Museums, Galleries, and Collections

-Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion
-The Spurlock Museum (opening 2002)
-John Philip Sousa Museum
-Illini Union Art Gallery
-Temple Hoyne Buell Architecture Gallery
-Rare Book and Special Collections Library

Sports and Recreation

-Campus recreation facilities: playing fields and gyms; ice arena; basketball, tennis, squash, volleyball, and racquetball courts; swimming pools; indoor running tracks; weight rooms; outdoor center; in-line skating pad
-Campus recreation programs: group exercise; strength and conditioning classes; intramural sports; ice skating; outdoor trips, clinics and equipment rentals; special events; aquatics; sport clubs Division of campus Recreation: 333.3806 (IMPE)
-Big Ten Conference (NCAA): 9 men's and 10 women's sports
-Memorial Stadium, 70,904 seats for football; Atkins Tennis Center, 6 indoor courts, 8 outdoor courts, and viewing area; Huff Gym, 4,500 seats for four Big Ten sports; Illinois Field, 2,200 seats for baseball; Eichelberger Field, 1,500 seats for softball; Track and Soccer Stadium, 2,600 seats for track and field and soccer; two 18-hole championship golf courses with driving range
-Robert Allerton Park and Conference Center: 515 Old Timer Rd. Monticello, IL.  Park Info and Visitors center 244.1035.  Reservations and conference center 333.3287.  It is a 1,500-acre country estate located 24 miles from campus near Monticello; National Natural Landmark. 

-Champaign Park District:  398.2550, Urbana Park District:  367.1544

-Illini Union: campus center with billiards, bowling lanes, and arcade
 
Housing

-22 undergraduate University residence halls accommodate 8,700 students
-Double room and board (20 meals/week): $6,086/year (2001-02 estimate)
-5 privately owned certified residence halls and 15 certified houses accommodate 2,500 students with 25% of the population being freshmen
-Five living and learning communities
-Graduate student housing includes 2 residence halls for 750 students and 2 University-owned apartment complexes for 975 students with families or single graduate students

Student Organizations

-Registered: up to 850 clubs, coalitions, societies, and teams
-Student media: Daily Illini newspaper, Illio yearbook, Illinois Technograph, The Issue, WPGU-FM, and WBML Cable-FM
-Nation's largest Greek-letter community: 52 fraternities and 31 sororities; about 20% of all undergraduates participate

More Information

-Campus Visitors Center: Levis Faculty Center, 919 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-0824 (hosts 20,000 prospective students and their families annually)
-Campus Information Desk: Illini Union, 1401 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801; open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.; (217) 333-4666
-Public Affairs: Third Floor, Swanlund Administration Building, 601 East John Street, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-5010

Major University Landmarks

While there are many interesting features of the campus, several landmarks of perennial interest to visitors are described below.

Since its construction in 1941, the Illini Union has played a significant role in the Universitys social, cultural, and educational environment. It houses meeting rooms, lounges, guest rooms, a browsing library, bowling alley, and a billiard room, as well as the offices of the Alumni Association and many student organizations.

At the heart of the Illinois campus, the Quad (south of the Illini Union) has been the foundation of the campuss development and growth. A complementary north quad is located south of the Beckman Institute, creating a pedestrian mall through the center of the entire campus.

One of the two largest edge-supported domes in the world, the 17,000-seat Assembly Hall provides a wide range of entertainment. More than half a million people annually attend such events as Big Ten basketball games, concerts, ballet, Broadway shows, operas, and exhibitions. For information about tours, call 333-2923.

Foellinger Auditorium was built in 1907, but the design of architect Clarence Blackall was not fully realized until 1985, when extensive restorations were completed. The 1,750-seat auditorium is the site of classes, lectures, symposia, concerts, and special events.

The Morrow Plots (the cornfield on campus), established in 1876 to demonstrate the value of crop rotation and fertilization, are the oldest agricultural experiment fields in continuous use in the country. The Undergraduate Library, to the west, was built underground so the plots would not be shaded. The Morrow Plots were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968.

Built in 1896, Altgeld Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus. Today, the Romanesque structure houses the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and the Mathematics Library. In its tower is the carillon, which sounds each quarter hour. In front of Altgeld Hall stands Alma Mater, with hands outstretched to welcome students. Sculptor and alumnus Lorado Taft designed the Universitys most familiar symbol, the bronze statue. Joining hands behind Alma Mater are Labor and Learning, representations of the Universitys motto.

Arguably the best performing arts facilities in the nation (Money Magazine), Krannert Center for the Performing Arts offers a full season of both University and professional productions. This complex of four indoor theatres, with generous rehearsal, classroom, and technical spaces, opened in 1969 and was built at an original cost of $21 million. Free tours are given daily at 3 p.m. when University classes are in session. To arrange for special tours, call 333-9716.

Located 24 miles west of Champaign-Urbana, near Monticello, is Allerton Park and Conference Center, given to the University by Robert Allerton in 1946. Designated a National Natural Landmark, the 1,500-acre park and Allerton House are used for conferences and other continuing education activities.

Three buildings on the campus were designed by the renowned architect Max Abramowitz--the Krannert Center, Assembly Hall, and the Hillel building.

For a virtual tour of the Quad and surrounding buildings:  http://www.uiuc.edu/tours/quad/prologue/.

unionview.jpg

Here is a picture of the Quad and the Union, two places any U of I JCSC Fellow gets to know intimately.

Contacts: GRRRRRRRRR Bureaucracy! Who do I talk to? 

Directory Assistance:  333.1000

Online Student, Staff and Faculty Directory: http://www.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/ph

Daily Illini:  57 E. Green, Champaign 333.3733: The student-run daily paper. Most often referred to as the DI. Good to read it, even better to work to establish a positive relationship with the editorial staff.

Religious Workers Association (RWA):  A group composed of staff from most campus religious organizations.  They meet monthly.  This is a great way to meet other professionals you frequently see around campus, build relationships and if desired, create multi-denominational programs.  The Hillel Staff will have additional contact information if needed. 

YMCA:  1001 South Wright Street, Champaign 337.1500
A great place to have a programwe had an Eco-Fair here for Tu BShevat at the beginning of second semester. Also, a great place for lunch if you like cheap Thai food.

Career Services Center:  715 S. Wright Street, Champaign 333.0820: They are really helpful, if you are looking for information about graduate schools or future opportunities.  They have many career fairs that are helpful to students in limbo about their futures.  In the spring semester, they host a non-profit career fair that we like to participate in.  Look for additional information or contact 333.0122 (Janine).  

Counseling Center: 110 Turner Student Services Building, Student Services, 610 E. John Champaign 333.3701: The Counseling Center has trained individuals on site to work directly with students.  It offers services to help students cope with many difficult issues, most of which the Hillel staff has not been trained for. A good place to refer students in need of more emotional support than we are qualified to give them.

Illini Union Information Desk: 1st floor, Northeast Union 333.4666 or 333.INFO: The information desk will do their best to answer any question about the university and Champaign-Urbana. 

Student Programs and Activities Department: 2nd Floor, Southwest Union 333.3660: This department is responsible for the Illini Union Board (who creates programs within the union including the Cerebral Café), Registered Organizations, SORF (Student Organization Requested Funding), the Office of Volunteer Programs and the Student Organization Complex. 

Registered Student Organizations Office (RSO):  280 Illini Union 333.1153: They can be helpful depending on the day.  This is the office with the most bureaucracy.  The head of the office, Yuki, is retiring and we do not know who will fill her place.  PLEASE NOTE:  ONLY STUDENTS MAY APPLY FOR A SPACE in the union. Spaces in the Union include the three indoor booths we use for tabling in the colder months. A Hillel staff member can fill out the space request form (available in the RSO Office) and have a student who is a president of any of Hillels student groups sign the form and deliver it to the RSO office. 

Housing Division:  200 Clark Hall, 1203 S. Fourth, Champaign 333.0610: They oversee 22 undergrad resident halls, two Grad resident halls and 981 family apartments.  Residential Life (300 Clark Hall) guides students through orientation and individual advising.  They also sponsor many programs throughout the year.  

Illini Student Government (ISG) 297 Illini Union 333.6543: The ISG allows students the opportunities to influence and challenge university rules and policies.  They have elected members as well as students who volunteer to serve on committees. 

Residential Life Contacts

Lilly Leon, Director of Mulitcultural Programs, 333.0770, lleon@uiuc.edu

Marc Goldman, Assistant Director, Housing, 333.0770, lmgoldma@uiuc.edu

Harry Harris, Resident Director, Blaisdell/Saunders (PAR), harryh@uiuc.edu

Nick Ippolito, Resident Director, Weston (Six-Pack), nippolit@uiuc.edu

Ben Morton, Resident Director, Townsend (ISR), bmorton@uiuc.edu

Scott Peska, Resident Director, Taft/Van Doren, peska@uiuc.edu

Rob Smith, Resident Director, Allen Hall, smith20@uiuc.edu

Ebony Tanner, Resident Director, Busey/Evans, etanner@uiuc.edu

Dawn Vavrik, Resident Director, LAR, vavrik@uiuc.edu

LaTika Webster, Resident Director, Wardall (ISR), lrwebste@uiuc.edu

Jen Yearsley, Resident Director, Garner, syearsle@uiuc.edu

Greek Life Contacts

Alpha Epsilon Pi:  110 E. Chalmers, Champaign (2nd and Chalmers) 367.1953, President - Adam Smith

Pi Lamda Phi:  1105 S. First St., Champaign 384.6225, President - Ryan Ebner

Sigma Alpha Mu:  301 E. Armory, Champaign (3rd and Armory) 344.2291, President - Jordan Gottlieb

Zeta Beta Tau:  907 S. Fourth, Champaign (Fourth and Daniel)  328.9300, President - Jeff Katz

Alpha Epsilon Phi:  904 S. Third, Champaign (Third and Daniel)  531.0442, President - Erin McKavanagh (not Jewish), (House mom is Denise, she is really helpful and believes in the Hillel/AEPhi relationship, thus she likes to have programs at their house.)

Sigma Delta Tau: 1104 W. Nevada, Urbana (between Goodwin and Lincoln) 337.4000, President - Lauren Horowitz

Helpful Hints

Places to Table:

Winter (or bad weather):  There are three booths inside the Union and those are a great way to attract the traffic that flows in and out between classes and lunch.

Sunny weather:  The space on the south side of the Quad behind the union is a great place to table.  There are not many organizations that table, so beware that there will be days that you are the only table out.  It would be a good idea to have a student sit at the table with you because they often attract many of their friends or see people they know walking by.  This is a great way for you to meet new students.  You may also want to picnic, or chill on the grass instead of behind a table. 

Meeting Places:

Jewish Greek Council usually tries to meet at a different house each time they meet. 

Green Street Coffee house has a meeting room in the back; it makes for a great, and quiet meeting place- this needs to be reserved.

Za's Restaurant has an upstairs with cozy couches, so does Moonstruck- great hot cocoa also! 

Some ideas for one-on-one meetings:

You can get ice cream or yogurt at Delights in the Union and then enjoy it on the Quad.

Espresso Royale (in Champaign at 6th and Daniel and in Urbana on Goodwin) and Café Paradiso (has good sandwiches)

IMPE (go workout with a student)

Lunch anywhere

Meet them at their dorm or house for a meal

Most of all - BE CREATIVE!

Some ideas for program locations:

Aside from the obvious places (Greek houses, residence halls, Union and Hillel), try Frat Park, the YMCA, the Quad, student apartments, campus restaurants/bars (like Murphy's)

Where to publicize:

Small Programs:  Make house announcements (at either chapter which is on Monday nights or at dinner); flyer residence halls and Greek houses; personal e-mails; submit to the Around Campus section in the DI; hang flyers in the buildings around the Quad--Lincoln Hall, English Building, Greg Hall, etc.)

Big Programs: (Do all of the above, then...) Place an ad in the DI, reserve a window in the Union and decorate it, chalk or tape flyers to the sidewalk of the Quad, and have students take overheads to their classes and ask their profs to make announcements if they pertain to the class.

Maps of the U of I campus.